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NFT: Who has the best pizza in NY/NJ?

HitSquad : 5/23/2019 10:05 pm
And what are your go-to toppings?

Asking for a friend...
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RE: RE: RE: RE: NY pizza is surprisingly  
pjcas18 : 5/24/2019 10:14 am : link
In comment 14454614 Gatorade Dunk said:
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In comment 14454603 pjcas18 said:


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In comment 14454600 Gatorade Dunk said:


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In comment 14454441 pjcas18 said:


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not very good. Little Italy Pizza is as good as DiFara's and John's on Bleeker. John's on Bleeker was the biggest pizza let down I've had. Waited an hour for super market frozen pizza quality (with too much mozz).

at this point NY pizza is a reputation thing and because pizza almost everywhere else sucks.

Also, the pizza place in Penn Station (Don Pepi) is as good as any other place in NY. Penn Station is a shit hole, but they have good wings (Kabooz) and decent pizza.


Ugh, your taste in pizza is as bad as your fashion sense. ;-)

Little Italy Pizza is almost always overcooked and their slices usually have been sitting too long. Don Pepi's is decent if and only if you're grading on a curve for train station pizza. They use so much corn meal on their trays that it's like brushing sand off the bottom of your pizza. Besides, Don Pepi's isn't even the best pizza in Penn Station - that distinction belongs to Rose's. And Pizza Suprema - a legitimately worthwhile pizza destination - is literally right across 8th ave.

I do agree with you about Kabooz's wings though - those are really good.



My point was less about the places more about the fact NY Pizza is not special. I've been to most of the recommended ones and they're just not special (compared with New Haven which isn't really fair or even asked about).

and the train station is just convenient.

Kabooz wings though I do admit when I have the flexibility I plan my Manhattan meetings end times so I have enough lead time to get some wings before my train leaves.



Next time you have the chance, go try Lazzara's. It's only a few blocks from Penn, so it's not wildly inconvenient if you can squeeze it into your schedule (and you can order online in advance and just walk in to grab your food).

I think in general there are a lot of great food places anywhere (not just NYC) that end up becoming overrated simply because of how much praise is lauded on them. That's a shame, IMO, because most of those places legitimately ARE great, but they're not life-changing in the way that the hype would have you believe.


Done. I'm in Manhattan Tuesday - Wednesday, before my Wednesday train home i'll go.
I just moved out this way not too long ago.  
Giants Fan in Steelers Land : 5/24/2019 10:33 am : link
Definitely saving this thread.
Im surprised  
moaltch : 5/24/2019 10:37 am : link
L&B Spumoni Gardens only got one vote....I moved from Bklyn to Jersey 20 years ago and I still make special trips back (think of the toll costs!) for their pizza. Many have tried to duplicate, but none have.
RE: Im biased because I grew up up the street from it  
tyrik13 : 5/24/2019 10:41 am : link
In comment 14454540 GIANTS128 said:
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but the Star Tavern is the best pie Ive ever had.


I used to live around the corner from Star Tavern, before i went into the military. Their pizza is good, but I still like Ray’s the best.
Razza in Jersey City for fancier specialty pies  
Vincenzo : 5/24/2019 12:01 pm : link
The owner studies and researches every ingredient that goes on the pizzas. The dough is amazing. They charge for their bread and butter and I never feel like it isn't worth it
RE: Razza in Jersey City for fancier specialty pies  
arcarsenal : 5/24/2019 12:03 pm : link
In comment 14454831 Vincenzo said:
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The owner studies and researches every ingredient that goes on the pizzas. The dough is amazing. They charge for their bread and butter and I never feel like it isn't worth it


With a handle like "Vincenzo," I am basically just totally inclined to take your advice here and 100% buy that this place is legit without ever having it.
RE: RE: RE: Last summer buddy & I went to Johnny Mac's (I think that's the name?)  
Eman11 : 5/24/2019 12:12 pm : link
In comment 14454569 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:
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In comment 14454527 10thAve said:


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In comment 14454520 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:


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in Asbury Park. If you order a drink, you get a ticket for a free bar pie. Not the world's greatest pizza, but pretty good itself. And the idea is genius. It kept us drinking.


Johnny Mac’s is for kids. Next time go to Porta or Tahlulah’s for pizza and good beer/drinks. Also hit up Bond St.



Awesome. Thanks for recommendations. Will save this thread & check those places out.


I'll second Porta in AP. It's our go to pre show meetup spot anytime we hit up AP for some music. Very good and never disappoints.
Johnny's in Mount Vernon.  
Racer : 5/24/2019 12:14 pm : link
Portnoy screwed up winter '19 wait times by hyping it online. Razor-thin, cheese goes on first, "saucy".

Sal's in Mamaroneck makes a killer Sicilian pie.
RE: Im surprised  
jcn56 : 5/24/2019 12:39 pm : link
In comment 14454642 moaltch said:
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L&B Spumoni Gardens only got one vote....I moved from Bklyn to Jersey 20 years ago and I still make special trips back (think of the toll costs!) for their pizza. Many have tried to duplicate, but none have.


That's because their pizza is average at best. Not bad compared to other places, but it's your average NYC slice, maybe a little above average on the Sicilian side.

Their food is very good (great marsala), and their spumoni kicks ass. And during the summer, nothing beats grabbing a slice and having some spumoni while sitting outside on the street watching people duke it out over parking spots.
Love DiFara's, but the slice is not the best thing he does  
regulator : 5/24/2019 1:36 pm : link
If you held a gun to my head, I'd say the tray/grandma's pie is the best pizza I've ever had.
I've never been one to travel for pizza  
GiantsLaw : 5/24/2019 1:51 pm : link
cause it's pretty damn good everywhere I lived in NJ. I did pick up favorites in each area though...here they are:
Uncle Franks - Dumont NJ
Benny Tudino's - Hoboken
Nauna's - Montclair
Calabria's - Livingston
L&B's Brooklyn  
Chris684 : 5/24/2019 2:02 pm : link
Tony D's West Caldwell

Benny T's Hoboken

Village Pizza - produced a great t-shirt  
GiantsUA : 5/24/2019 2:11 pm : link
Pizza is like sex, when it's good, it's great.

When it's bad, it's still pretty good.
my absolute favorite spots  
PaulBlakeTSU : 5/24/2019 2:26 pm : link
Keste, Bleecker Street
Razza, Jersey City
Rubirosa Lafayette St
Modern Apizza New Haven
John's, Bleecker St
Star Tavern, Orange, NJ
Roberta's, Brooklyn
New Park  
TommyWiseau : 5/24/2019 4:33 pm : link
Pizza in howard beach
RE: Pete & Elda's (Carmine's) by far for thin crust  
BlueLou'sBack : 5/24/2019 4:44 pm : link
In comment 14454549 Csonka said:
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Wish I lived closer. I'm near Kinchley's but it's no comparison. I'll have to try Nellie's.


My brother lives in Allendale and after reading this thread I bugged him about Kinchley's, and he said Nellie's is just as good so why drive 5 minutes more to Ramsey?

Also, Nellie's other menu items - particularly their daily specials - are much better that the food at Kinchley's, too.
Did Lazzara's ever sell slices in a street level counter?  
JonC : 5/24/2019 5:03 pm : link
I remember a place in that vicinity for great slices after MSG and Hammerstein events, but can't remember the name. Talking ten years ago and more.
The original Patsy's  
SchindlersFist : 5/24/2019 5:17 pm : link
In East Harlem is the best slice in the city
RE: Love DiFara's, but the slice is not the best thing he does  
carousel : 5/24/2019 5:35 pm : link
In comment 14454964 regulator said:
Quote:
If you held a gun to my head, I'd say the tray/grandma's pie is the best pizza I've ever had.


This is my opinion exactly
Search the archives  
PEEJ : 5/24/2019 5:46 pm : link
for more threads answering this question
Umberto’s  
Mike in NY : 5/24/2019 5:51 pm : link
New Hyde Park, NY
In Monmouth County, NJ  
jcp56 : 5/24/2019 8:34 pm : link
I liked Franki Fed's on Route 33 in Freehold. Very good thin crust pizza. I haven't been back since moving out of state.

Whoever mentioned Benny Tudino's in Hoboken, you brought back memories of college in the 80's. Benny Tudino's had huge, cheap slices, but nothing mind blowing.
RE: L&B's Brooklyn  
Matt M. : 5/24/2019 9:00 pm : link
In comment 14454998 Chris684 said:
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Tony D's West Caldwell

Benny T's Hoboken
L&Bs hasn't made good pizza in years.
RE: Umberto’s  
Matt M. : 5/24/2019 9:02 pm : link
In comment 14455210 Mike in NY said:
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New Hyde Park, NY
I don't usually go for this kind of pie, but I love their buffalo chicken pie.
Walk in single slice is very different than sit down pie ordered  
idiotsavant : 5/25/2019 1:46 pm : link
For walk in slice you need -fresh- and that means just out of the oven plain slice, NY style, thousands of good ones.

Obviously, the varied specialty slices sell less often, ergo, not as fresh on a walk in basis

RE: Pete & Elda's (Carmine's) by far for thin crust  
TurdFurguson : 5/25/2019 4:07 pm : link
In comment 14454549 Csonka said:
Quote:
Wish I lived closer. I'm near Kinchley's but it's no comparison. I'll have to try Nellie's.

+100

Star Tavern is great. Went to Senton Hall Prep and we used to cut out for lunch there. But they have a tendency to burn the Pie sometimes. I didn’t mind it but an inconsistency.

Pete and Elda’s is always great and still really good cold or reheated
Nobody lives near Middle Village/Maspeth/Ridgewood?  
NINEster : 5/25/2019 7:48 pm : link
Rosa's Pizza makes a fantastic Sicilian slice/pie. Spumoni Gardens might be the only other place in all of NYC that could compare. Most pizza places just do not make Sicilian with the kind of authenticity it needs....edible but certainly not something to lust after.

Their other pizza slices are very good....regular, margherita, eggplant. Food is very good too.

This is the pizza place that has been used in Billions (the Metropolitan Ave and 78th street location). Very satisfying to see a real life place that's legit be featured like that.

As for the thin crust, I like Nick's Pizza in Forest Hills and Grimaldi's under the bridge.

For that mainstay NYC slice, I have no opinion for best of the best.

BTW, I ate at Sorbillo in Naples several weeks back....unreal, I would say it's my favorite ever. I'm curious how good their Manhattan location is....definitely want to check it out.
Brooklyn Square in Jackson NJ...  
EricJ : 5/25/2019 8:20 pm : link
was recently voted NJs best pizza. I have eaten there and it is hard to argue with the choice. Every pie seems has a different sauce.
This thread inspired me  
GiantJake : 5/25/2019 10:24 pm : link
so my son and I went to Star Tavern and had a pepperoni pie yesterday. Thin crust with a slight char on the edges. Very good. I had never been there before. I'll go back.
Thin crust: Nellies has surpassed Kinchley’s in making ...  
Crispino : 5/27/2019 8:06 am : link
the best thin crust. It’s easy to sit down and power through an entire pepperoni bar pie. And a shout out to Conte’s in Princeton. Also delicious thin crust and an awesome old world beer and pizza atmosphere.
I remember Conti's garlic pie  
gtt350 : 5/27/2019 11:37 pm : link
it was excellent
A new contender for my fave  
GiantSteps : 5/29/2019 3:01 am : link
I know it's sacrilege to say, but lately I have been digging the spicy sopressata and honey slice at Mama's Too, which is on the Upper West Side. It's something like a Detroit style slice, but not as dense. But denser than a typical Sicilian slice. The sopressata and honey combo is fantastic, and the pizza tastes great. Hard not to overindulge there.
The one drag is that it's a very small place. But man, they're very good.
RE: And a brain fart moment  
Canton : 5/29/2019 11:03 am : link
In comment 14454379 Matt M. said:
Quote:
I meant John's on Bleeker.



It's actually..

John's of Bleecker St.
RE: my absolute favorite spots  
Canton : 5/29/2019 11:11 am : link
In comment 14455014 PaulBlakeTSU said:
Quote:
Keste, Bleecker Street
Razza, Jersey City
Rubirosa Lafayette St
Modern Apizza New Haven
John's, Bleecker St
Star Tavern, Orange, NJ
Roberta's, Brooklyn


Rubirosa is on 235 Mulberry St.
RE: A friend was visiting NYC and said he went to some famous place  
GeneInCal : 5/29/2019 11:33 am : link
In comment 14454585 Bill L said:
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that was in a church. Anyone know what that is? Is it good or just for tourists? (my friend was a tourist)?


probably John's of Times Square. It's in an old church, good pizza.
I am a big fan of DiFar but the wait is obscene  
Essex : 5/29/2019 11:41 am : link
there is a place called Sauce on 12th and First (did not read all the responses to see if has been mentioned) it is relatively new but it is insanely good and can go toe to toe with any pizza in the city.
RE: Love DiFara's, but the slice is not the best thing he does  
Essex : 5/29/2019 11:48 am : link
In comment 14454964 regulator said:
Quote:
If you held a gun to my head, I'd say the tray/grandma's pie is the best pizza I've ever had.


Btw, this is 1000% correct, the square slice at DiFara is in another universe, the round slice is excellent, but for some reason the square is on another planet. But again, I waited 2 hours for my pizza there, the wait is obscene. I have gone back on some other day where the wait was less, but still you shlep all the way out there and then you might have to wait another two hours to eat. People should know what they are getting into before they go out there.
RE: I am a big fan of DiFar but the wait is obscene  
Gatorade Dunk : 5/29/2019 11:50 am : link
In comment 14457825 Essex said:
Quote:
there is a place called Sauce on 12th and First (did not read all the responses to see if has been mentioned) it is relatively new but it is insanely good and can go toe to toe with any pizza in the city.

Oddly, I have never waited at DiFara's. Granted, I've only been a few times (once specifically for it, twice before shows at the Kings), so maybe I've just gotten lucky. I'm sure weekends are a nightmare, but 6ish on a weeknight, there hasn't been a wait at all when I went.
RE: RE: I am a big fan of DiFar but the wait is obscene  
Essex : 5/29/2019 11:58 am : link
In comment 14457836 Gatorade Dunk said:
Quote:
In comment 14457825 Essex said:


Quote:


there is a place called Sauce on 12th and First (did not read all the responses to see if has been mentioned) it is relatively new but it is insanely good and can go toe to toe with any pizza in the city.


Oddly, I have never waited at DiFara's. Granted, I've only been a few times (once specifically for it, twice before shows at the Kings), so maybe I've just gotten lucky. I'm sure weekends are a nightmare, but 6ish on a weeknight, there hasn't been a wait at all when I went.

the wait was at around 1230-1 on a Friday. I once went on a Thursday at lunch time and it was relatively quiet, but the old man wasn't doing the pizza that day. I am in park slope, so it is no big deal for me to check it out and leave if its too crowded, just feel bad if people travel great distances for that and have to wait another two hours. But, if they know it and want to do it, good on them. I have never went at night, btw.
My personal favorites in NJ  
Maximus, Esq. : 5/29/2019 2:27 pm : link
Star Tavern - Orange
Nonna’s - Florham Park (grandma pie)
Denino’s South - Brick (I believe original is in Staten Island)
Kinchley’s - Ramsey
Pete & Elda’s - Neptune
Mack’s - Avalon/Wildwoods
Ok  
pjcas18 : 5/29/2019 3:20 pm : link
so I ate at Lazzara's today. Assuming it's the same place mentioned.

two thumbs up. I will say walking in I thought I was being set up. it's a hole in the wall, upstairs in a dingy building (not that that bothers me) with rectangle pizza. also doesn't really bother me, but sometimes rectangle pizza is sicilian, which is a completely different thing - the pictures on the menu on the doorway made me leery.

Anyway, if I were doing a review like the guy from barstool (who sucks) I'd give them an 8. Definitely better than Don Pepi in Penn Station.

I like a thin crust, but this crust was almost too thin.

I took pictures to confirm this is the right place. good sauce, not too much sauce, right amount of cheese, good flavor crust, my only complaint was like I said the crust was a little too thin, almost cracker-ish until the actual crust, which was also a little thin.

One of the best NY pizza places I've eaten. Better than John's on Bleeker.




Pizza Suprema  
DanMetroMan : 5/29/2019 3:33 pm : link
is the most underrated pizza place in the city.
I may get flamed for this  
bigbluehoya : 5/29/2019 3:39 pm : link
but I really enjoy Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza.

I also love Nellie's in Waldwick. Pepperoni + Hot Cherry Peppers is a great combo of toppings there.
RE: Pizza Suprema  
pjcas18 : 5/29/2019 3:39 pm : link
In comment 14458071 DanMetroMan said:
Quote:
is the most underrated pizza place in the city.


Where is it? Is it convenient to mid-town or penn station.

I'm in the city twice a month and usually walk from Penn to grand central area and back - so anywhere in the general vicinity is very easy for me to get too., I can go up sometimes as far as Central park one one end and the financial district at the other end but generally my trips are reliably where I mentioned.
RE: RE: Pizza Suprema  
DanMetroMan : 5/29/2019 3:44 pm : link
In comment 14458082 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 14458071 DanMetroMan said:


Quote:


is the most underrated pizza place in the city.



Where is it? Is it convenient to mid-town or penn station.

I'm in the city twice a month and usually walk from Penn to grand central area and back - so anywhere in the general vicinity is very easy for me to get too., I can go up sometimes as far as Central park one one end and the financial district at the other end but generally my trips are reliably where I mentioned.


PJ,
It's one block over from Penn actually. I'm not going to claim I've tried every top place but in terms of what it is (a good local slice shop) it's very good. They have a lot of "interesting toppings" all of a sudden but their plain slice, pepperoni etc. All very good.
I forgot  
pjcas18 : 5/29/2019 3:45 pm : link
my other complaint about Lazzara's - no bacon.

I judge pizza based on their cheese pizza, but bacon is one of my favorite pizza toppings. The Modern Apizza Italian Bomb is the best pizza on the planet and it has bacon, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, onion, pepper and garlic. Sounds like overkill to some people, but once you try it you will agree, the Italian Bomb from Modern, the margherita from Sally's and the fresh clam from Pepe's the three best pizzas on Earth.

Italian bomb:

RE: RE: RE: Pizza Suprema  
pjcas18 : 5/29/2019 3:46 pm : link
In comment 14458088 DanMetroMan said:
Quote:
In comment 14458082 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


In comment 14458071 DanMetroMan said:


Quote:


is the most underrated pizza place in the city.



Where is it? Is it convenient to mid-town or penn station.

I'm in the city twice a month and usually walk from Penn to grand central area and back - so anywhere in the general vicinity is very easy for me to get too., I can go up sometimes as far as Central park one one end and the financial district at the other end but generally my trips are reliably where I mentioned.



PJ,
It's one block over from Penn actually. I'm not going to claim I've tried every top place but in terms of what it is (a good local slice shop) it's very good. They have a lot of "interesting toppings" all of a sudden but their plain slice, pepperoni etc. All very good.


next time.
I am partial to Trattoria Sorrentina in North Bergen, but in Hoboken  
Jim in Hoboken : 5/29/2019 6:02 pm : link
a new place Zero Otto Uno Cafe is probably the best.

I like Razza too, and Porto (also in North Bergen) is quite good as well.

In Italy pizzas are actually a soggy mess, but I was totally blown away by what Bonci makes, more like flatbread but wow, was it good.

When I first had New Haven pizza I thought it was a revelation but on the subsequent visits the crust just seemed too hard/crispy now.

The key is brick wood-fired oven and double zero flour.
PJ  
Gatorade Dunk : 5/29/2019 6:58 pm : link
Not sure if you made it to Lazzara's in the torrential downpour, but if so I'm curious for your take on it.
RE: PJ  
pjcas18 : 5/29/2019 8:00 pm : link
In comment 14458215 Gatorade Dunk said:
Quote:
Not sure if you made it to Lazzara's in the torrential downpour, but if so I'm curious for your take on it.


scroll up to 3:20. I ate at Lazarra's around 1pm, before any rain fell (if it was the right place).
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